Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Ya-guang Guo, Qian Yin, Yixiong Wang, Jun Xu, Leqi Zhu
Summary: Based on the connotation and structure of government service resources, this study used data from 2019 to 2021 to calculate the efficiency of government service resource allocation in different periods in L city. By adding the government cloud platform and cloud computing resources and applying the data envelopment analysis method, the study analyzed and discussed the patterns and evolutionary trends of government service resource allocation efficiency. The results show that the overall efficiency level of government service resource allocation in L city is not high, and the relative difference in allocation efficiency is a common phenomenon in regional development.
JOURNAL OF CLOUD COMPUTING-ADVANCES SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Yongrok Choi, Hyoungsuk Lee, Hojin Jeong, Jahira Debbarma
Summary: Many developing countries are facing issues of urbanization, particularly in mitigating carbon and air pollution. This study analyzes the paradoxical issue of air pollution in terms of PM2.5 efficiency and evaluates the effectiveness of regulatory policies and governance factors. The study finds that most local governments lack sustainable governance in regulating air pollution and identifies regional economic development and clean air technology innovation as important strategic factors for promoting sustainable regulation policy performance.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mengling Zhou, Yaojun Ye, Yaru Huang
Summary: The problem of environmental pollution is becoming increasingly prominent, and the traditional methods of assessing the effectiveness of ecological governance are no longer suitable. This study introduces a new index system and model to measure and evaluate the green governance efficiency of 30 provinces in China from different perspectives. The results show that external environmental factors and technological progress efficiency have a significant impact on green governance effectiveness, and targeted suggestions for governance in different regions are provided.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhuyuan Li, Xiaolong Wang, Run Zheng, Sanggyun Na, Chang Liu
Summary: This study analyzes the operational efficiency and total factor productivity of 32 container terminal companies in China. The research reveals the existence of efficiency gaps and resource waste in some container terminals, while highlighting the higher operational efficiency of terminals in the Bohai Rim, Pearl River Delta, and Yangtze River Delta regions. Furthermore, the study finds that most container terminal companies have imperfect management practices and decision making.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hailin Feng, Zhen Liu, Jian Wu, Wasim Iqbal, Wasim Ahmad, Mohamed Marie
Summary: In response to global climate change and the economic crisis, the concept of the green economy has gained importance in mainstream politics and business. The green Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is crucial for achieving a sustainable transition in the regional economy, and this study finds that government expenditure has a positive and significant effect on green economic performance.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2022)
Article
Mathematics
Chia-Nan Wang, Phi-Hung Nguyen, Thi-Ly Nguyen, Thi-Giang Nguyen, Duc-Thinh Nguyen, Thi-Hoai Tran, Hong-Cham Le, Huong-Thuy Phung
Summary: This research develops a two-stage DEA model to measure the performance efficiency of Vietnam's top 18 seaports. The DEA resampling technique is used to forecast future performance, and the DEA Malmquist model analyzes efficiency improvement. The results indicate that most ports have slightly advanced in technological efficiency.
Article
Economics
Tommaso Agasisti, Aleksei Egorov, Pavel Serebrennikov
Summary: This paper investigates the impact of territorial characteristics on the efficiency of universities. The theoretical framework combines resource dependence theory and institutional isomorphism theory. Using data on Russian universities, the authors apply an efficiency estimator to test the framework. The findings suggest that the managerial efficiency of universities is strongly influenced by contextual factors.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC PLANNING SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Wasi Ul Hassan Shah, Gang Hao, Hong Yan, Rizwana Yasmeen, Ihtsham Ul Haq Padda, Assad Ullah
Summary: This study examines the relationship between energy efficiency, trade, financial development, and government integrity in G7 economies. The study finds that trade is an effective channel to increase energy efficiency, while financial development enhances energy efficiency. However, research and development have a positive impact on trade but do not significantly improve energy efficiency, and governance plays a role in promoting trade but lacks focus on improving energy efficiency.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yahman Yahman, Azis Setyagama
Summary: Environmental development in Indonesia faces challenges in balancing economic growth and environmental protection through legal regulations.
ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Mustafa K. Yilmaz, Ali Osman Kusakci, Mine Aksoy, Umit Hacioglu
Summary: This study examines the operational efficiencies of 46 Turkish civil airports from 2015 to 2018 using a hybrid methodology. The findings show that a majority of the airports operate below the optimal efficiency level and suggest that airports located in touristic areas and closer to city centers achieve higher efficiency levels.
APPLIED SOFT COMPUTING
(2022)
Article
Business, Finance
Yudan Cheng, Shanghui Jia, Huan Meng
Summary: This study examines the impact of fiscal incentives on policy choices of local governments in China. The findings suggest a substitution relationship between land sales revenue and local government debt, as well as an effect on the maturity structure of local government debt, potentially leading to new debt risks.
INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF ECONOMICS & FINANCE
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Yu-Chuan Chen, Yung-Ho Chiu, Tzu-Han Chang, Tai-Yu Lin
Summary: Today's society is challenged by unbalanced development caused by climate change, economic growth, social equality, and wealth disparity. A good government should consider the needs and feelings of the people in addition to efficiency. This research evaluates the government efficiency and public satisfaction efficiency of local governments in Taiwan from 2016 to 2019, and explores the correlation between public evaluation and governance effectiveness.
JOURNAL OF HAPPINESS STUDIES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ramon Sala-Garrido, Manuel Mocholi-Arce, Maria Molinos-Senante, Alexandros Maziotis
Summary: This study used Range Adjusted Measure models to evaluate the operational, quality-adjusted, and operational & quality-adjusted efficiency (O&QAE) scores of the Chilean water industry. It was found that water utilities could further reduce costs and undesirable outputs by 3.6% on average, while trying to expand the scale of operation.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Weijiang Liu, Yue Bai
Summary: The study found that the regional innovation efficiency in China is uneven, with the level of pure technical efficiency affecting the improvement of innovation efficiency; government funding has a significant impact on regional innovation efficiency and should prioritize direct subsidies.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yufeng Chen, Siyuan Cheng, Zhitao Zhu
Summary: This paper explores the efficiency issues of Chinese airlines using the NSBM approach, revealing that all airlines perform well in terms of economic profits but face challenges in production efficiency. The energy efficiency of Chinese airlines is consistent with CO2 emission efficiency, with low-cost airlines demonstrating the best economic and environmental performance.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Management
Diogo Cunha Ferreira, Rodrigo Soares, Maria Isabel Pedro, Rui Cunha Marques
Summary: Ensuring customer satisfaction is crucial for managers aiming to maintain or increase profits. This study proposes an alternative model for studying satisfaction and its determinants, combining Stochastic Multicriteria Acceptability Analysis and Multicriteria Satisfaction Analysis. The model is applied to a case study in the hospitality industry.
INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS IN OPERATIONAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Urban Studies
Nuno F. da Cruz, Philipp Rode, Michael McQuarrie, Nicole Badstuber, Enora Robin
Summary: This paper empirically investigates urban governance in London and New York by applying social network analysis methods. The study reveals that transport governance in London is more centralized, while the institutional environment in New York is characterized by more checks and balances.
URBAN AFFAIRS REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carlos A. Novaes, Rui Cunha Marques
Summary: Stormwater systems in most cities are crucial but often overlooked infrastructure, relying on weak institutional and organizational structures. Solving the issues associated with these systems requires more than just technological solutions, but also a paradigm shift towards a new socio-institutional mentality that addresses new demands.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mai Wardeh, Rui Cunha Marques
Summary: This article reviews the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in refugee camps in the Arab Middle East based on empirical data from Syrian refugees and Iraqi IDPs collected through a questionnaire. SDGs' indices were calculated using arithmetic mean and principal component analysis methods. The study finds that progress towards achieving the SDGs varies in the three locations due to different policies in the host countries. Iraq ranked highest in social and economic sustainability, Jordan ranked highest in environmental sustainability, and Lebanon lagged behind in all three dimensions. While SDG7 performed well, accelerating progress towards the remaining SDGs is crucial. Without substantial efforts from all stakeholders, the 2030 agenda will not be accomplished.
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Diogo Cunha Ferreira, Paulo Caldas, Miguel Verla, Rui Cunha Marques
Summary: This paper discusses different methods of aggregating partial performance indicators into composite indicators, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The paper proposes a new framework based on geometric aggregation of performance indicators to address the shortcomings of existing models.
EXPERT SYSTEMS WITH APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rui Cunha Marques, Pedro Simoes, Ines Machete, Thalita Fagundes
Summary: Water access as a human right is recognized by the UN since 2010. However, economic crisis has hindered poorer households from affording water services regularly even when piped water is available. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the issues of affordability and health consequences related to disconnection policies. This study examines water subsidies and disconnection policies in medium- and high-income countries to analyze their approaches in dealing with default rates.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Evaristo Fernandes, Rui Cunha Marques
Summary: In the last three decades, water shortages have become more common and have had a significant impact on the global economy. This has led to a shift from linear water management to circular resource preservation management, with a focus on water reuse. The circular economy in the water sector has gained attention, although the potential for treated wastewater reuse is still in its early stages. This paper examines recent research on circular economy implementation in the water and wastewater sector, with a focus on motivations and geographical distribution.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ines Freire Machete, Rui Cunha Marques
Summary: Private financing in the water supply and sanitation sector is inadequate due to perceived project risks, resulting in barriers to leveraging private financing. This study analyzed 185 World Bank-funded projects from 2015 to 2021 to understand the influence of perceived risks on financing. The study identified the most prevalent risks in these projects and found that the World Bank has varying levels of tolerance for different risk types, which can impact financing decisions.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Sonia Lima, Ana Brochado, Rui Cunha Marques
Summary: This study examines the unbalanced relationships in current PPP risk management frameworks, particularly in the water sectors of developing countries. It analyzes different stakeholders' perceptions of risk management through interviews in Portugal and Mozambique. The findings reveal that experts consider managing context risks to be crucial in the success of PPPs in developing countries' water sectors. The study also proposes a complete risk management cycle based on the opinions of interviewed professionals.
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Diogo Cunha Ferreira, Jose Rui Figueira, Salvatore Greco, Rui Cunha Marques
Summary: Assessing the technical efficiency of observations requires perfect knowledge of the associated data. Biased estimates may result if this is not the case. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is a widely used mathematical model for efficiency estimation. This study proposes a method to address the issue of imperfect knowledge of data and demonstrates its effectiveness through an empirical case study.
EXPERT SYSTEMS WITH APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Regional & Urban Planning
Hugo Consciencia Silvestre, Rui Cunha Marques, Brian Dollery, Aldenisio Moraes Correia
Summary: In this paper, we empirically investigate the relationship between cooperating entities, local government institutions, and transaction costs in Brazilian local government water services through consortia. Our results show that institutional arrangements significantly affect cost efficiency, measured by total expenditure per user, between 2011 and 2019. We found that cost efficiency increases slowly under bureaucracies and faster under public enterprises, with dedicated asset specificities and contract management complexity explaining differences in water service provision cost efficiency. These findings have theoretical significance and important policy implications for intermunicipal cooperative agreements.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT STUDIES
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Civil
Thalita Salgado Fagundes, Rui Cunha Marques, Tadeu Malheiros
Summary: Water and sanitation affordability has become an important research topic due to the economic crisis and the role of tariffs. This paper systematically reviewed previous research on affordability and critically discussed the methodologies used. The study identified four key topics and highlighted the potential role of the analysis in public financial policies.
AQUA-WATER INFRASTRUCTURE ECOSYSTEMS AND SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Carlos Novaes, Rui Marques
Summary: Circular economy means efficient resource use and creating a feasible framework to tackle climate change and economic scarcity challenges. Urban stormwater, when treated as a useful resource, can replace energy-consuming water supply systems, resulting in energy savings and emission reduction. Urban agriculture can also benefit from green infrastructures. The key lies in implementing an efficiency mentality and aligning policies, institutions, and regulations to promote circular economy in urban planning and water cycle.
Article
Water Resources
Ines Freire Machete, Rui Cunha Marques
Summary: This study analyzed 62 completed World Bank water supply and sanitation projects and found correlations and interactions between project results, bank performance, and project characteristics. It highlights the importance of assessing and mitigating project risks, as well as the significance of development bank financing.
JOURNAL OF WATER SANITATION AND HYGIENE FOR DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Regional & Urban Planning
Luis de Sousa, Nuno Ferreira da Cruz, Daniel Fernandes
Summary: Much of the literature on quality of democracy focuses on nation states and uses case studies. However, there is less theoretical and comparative empirical research on the quality of local democracy. This paper aims to contribute to our understanding of democracy from a grassroots perspective. It develops a conceptual framework and uses a multidimensional index to assess the quality of democracy in all 278 municipalities in mainland Portugal. The regression analysis conducted in this study tests the usefulness of these measures and explores the associations between quality of local democracy and various political and socioeconomic factors.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT STUDIES
(2023)
Article
Management
Hengyu Liu, Kai Zheng
Summary: Since August 2018, African swine fever (ASF) has caused over one million pig deaths in China and led to a surge in pork prices. To address this issue, the Chinese government has implemented two farm subsidies: the compulsory culling subsidy (CCS) and the large-scale breeding subsidy (LBS). Through a game-theoretic model, the study explores the optimal design of these subsidy programs and their impacts on different stakeholders.
OMEGA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Management
Reza Azad Gholami, Leif Kristoffer Sandal, Jan Uboe
Summary: This paper investigates a decentralized supply channel where a manufacturer and a retailer compete in a multi-period discrete time setting, addressing uncertain demand through dynamic channel optimization. The paper proposes solution algorithms and theorems that highlight the benefits of postponement strategies for the follower and potential harm for the manufacturer in a decentralized channel.
OMEGA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Management
Anne G. Balter, Ki Wai Chau, Nikolaus Schweizer
Summary: This study examines whether the threshold parameter in the Omega ratio represents risk aversion by analyzing the asymptotic expansions for risk premia. The results suggest that the threshold in the Omega ratio represents risk aversion when the variance of the additional risk decreases with the background risk and when the density of the background risk is log-concave. Comparisons with expected utility criteria indicate that the conditions for the Omega threshold to represent risk aversion are comparable to those for exponential utility functions.
OMEGA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Management
Baozhuang Niu, Fengfeng Xie, Lei Chen
Summary: This paper examines the strategic sourcing decisions of a local brand (BOP) when purchasing remanufactured components from a local supplier (LSP). The study finds that the BOP tends to decrease its purchasing orders from the LSP when the probability of overseas supply disruption is high, while the LSP is willing to sell components to the BOP when the probability is in a moderate range.
OMEGA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Management
Chiang Kao
Summary: This study develops a model to calculate the maximum SBM efficiency for general network production systems, and applies it to a garment manufacturing company. The results show that the sewing operation contributes more to the system efficiency than the cutting operation does.
OMEGA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Management
Baozhuang Niu, Jiayun Liu, Jianhua Zhang, Kanglin Chen
Summary: This study examines a brand's decision on reselling through a platform by using game-theoretical analysis and big data validation based on transaction-level data from JD.com. The study finds that the platform's channel advantage and high logistics service level encourage brands to choose the reselling mode, and the impact of the platform's private label competition is non-monotonic.
OMEGA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Management
Ali Fereydooni, Sasan Barak, Seyed Mehrzad Asaad Sajadi
Summary: This study develops an online portfolio selection strategy that considers Environmental, Social, and Governance factors in addition to return and risk. The results indicate the superiority of the approach that considers Environmental, Social, and Governance factors in terms of profit, volatility, and the highest deflated Sharpe ratio.
OMEGA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Management
Sally Giuseppe Arcidiacono, Salvatore Corrente, Salvatore Greco
Summary: This paper introduces a method to handle multiple compatible value functions in multi-criteria decision making by building a probability distribution. Stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis provides statistical information based on the decision maker's preferences. Extensive simulations and sensitivity analysis have been conducted to demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method.
OMEGA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Management
Junlin Chen, Zewu Jiang, Xiaobo Zhao, Wanshan Zhu, Jinxing Xie
Summary: In this study, we investigate a supply chain system consisting of a retailer and a supplier. We examine the threshold problem in contract design and take into account the risk preference of the retailer and the fairness concern of the supplier. The experiment shows that the behavior of the retailer affects the threshold of the optimal contract design, while the behavior of the supplier only affects the optimal wholesale price. These findings suggest that the behavior of retailers and suppliers play a crucial role in the mechanism design of supply chains.
OMEGA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Management
Shuxia Peng, Bo Li, Wei Zheng
Summary: This study examines the impact of consumers' valuation updating on optimal pricing decisions and market structure in a competitive software market. The results show that with consumers' valuation updating, the incumbent can maximize profits through market segmentation, dominance, or entry deterrence strategies, and is willing to share the market with the entrant, achieving a win-win situation.
OMEGA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Management
Victor Gimenez, Diego Prior, Claudio Thieme, Emili Tortosa-Ausina
Summary: This study proposes a nonparametric activity analysis methodology to assess the effectiveness of pandemic management in 61 countries nine months into the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that effectiveness is strongly influenced by socioeconomic and cultural factors and reveal three main groups of countries based on their management level. This highlights the importance of operations research methods in accurately assessing pandemic management.
OMEGA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Management
Narges Sereshti, Yossiri Adulyasak, Raf Jans
Summary: This paper investigates the stochastic multi-level lot sizing problem with a service level and explores the value of adding flexibility in such context. By modeling the problem as a two-stage stochastic program with uncertain demand and considering different demand scenarios, the study shows that adding flexibility to the system can result in cost savings, even with a small degree of flexibility.
OMEGA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Management
Jafar Chaab, Georges Zaccour
Summary: This paper examines the pricing of a new product in the presence of sophisticated consumer behaviors. The study finds that forward-looking consumer behavior can either strengthen or weaken the effectiveness of a penetration pricing strategy, while the superiority of committed pricing in terms of firm's profit heavily depends on consumer behaviors.
OMEGA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Management
Amelia Bilbao-Terol, Celia Bilbao-Terol
Summary: This paper presents a methodology that combines the hedonic pricing method and the Choquet integral for modelling the hotel selection process. This hybrid technique takes into account both market valuation and the importance of criteria, and holds potential benefits.
OMEGA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Management
Hui Li, Dongdong Wu
Summary: This study aims to investigate the impact of scale effects from restructuring on performance in tourism firms, and examine the influence of investor attention on restructuring performance. The findings reveal that restructuring activities can enhance scale effects, but the benefits decrease over time, and investor attention online also plays a role in determining restructuring performance.
OMEGA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2024)
